TIC 10
by KAN“I’ve never interpreted it from an insect’s perspective, but this is a new way of looking at it.”
Cho-yeon bit back a laugh at his serious answer. There was a short stretch where the sidewalk disappeared, so they walked single file along the shoulder of the road. Cho-yeon, who knew the way to the restaurant, led the way and he followed.
“Professor Kwon.”
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While it felt a bit cowardly to apologize without looking at him, she knew she wouldn’t be able to speak if she met his gaze. As she realized again, he was handsome enough to make her feel a little uncomfortable looking at him directly.
“Yes, I’m here.”
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Cho-yeon hesitated, momentarily confused if he was joking or serious.
“I’m here. Go ahead.”
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His subsequent indifferent tone made her realize that he was serious.
“Last night, I… made a mistake while I was asleep. I’m very sorry.”
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The path lined with scattered yellow coreopsis flowers ended and the sidewalk reappeared. Cho-yeon stepped onto the sidewalk first. He quickly caught up and walked beside her.
Cho-yeon stopped and looked at him. The morning sun shone brightly behind him. He was wearing a white t-shirt and light-colored jeans. Maybe it was the light-colored clothes that made him look younger than usual.
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“So, did you sleep well?”
His tone was still indifferent, but a faint smile played on his lips.
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“Yes, it was the best sleep I’ve had in a long time.”
“Then that’s good.”
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His casual, unconcerned answer made Cho-yeon feel even more apologetic. He started walking again, and Cho-yeon walked one step behind him.
“I’m really sorry.”
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“It’s okay. You weren’t the one who moved first.”
His continued nonchalance made her heart flutter.
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“Then…?”
“You were moaning so much, so I patted you.”
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“Ah…”
She hesitated, wondering if she should thank him.
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“Did you have a nightmare?”
“Yes.”
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He just nodded, without asking what kind of nightmare.
“You can’t sleep because of nightmares?”
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“Yes.”
“That must be hard.”
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His casual, seemingly indifferent remark landed right in Cho-yeon’s heart. Her heart trembled from the impact. Tears stung her eyes. She hadn’t realized that a single, sincere word of comfort could be so comforting, especially at such an unexpected moment. He knew how to offer comfort maturely and plainly, without making the other person feel uncomfortable.
“Anyway, thanks for last night. And I’m sorry.”
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“I’ll give you two more chances to make a mistake with me.”
“What?”
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Cho-yeon stopped and looked up at him. It sounded like he was asking her to sleep with him two more times. She wasn’t sure if she misinterpreted him or if she understood him correctly. She had just praised him for being mature, should she take it back?
“One apology is enough, but you apologized twice. That’s unbalanced.”
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She had no idea what he meant by unbalanced.
“So you’re saying you’ll give me two more chances to make a mistake with you, Professor Kwon?”
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He nodded.
Does this guy like me? Is it because he fell in love at first sight? Or… is he a masochist who likes to be bullied?
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Unsure how to answer, Cho-yeon frowned and stared at him blankly. She had thought she was clear-headed for the first time in a while this morning, but he had a way of making her feel stupid.
“Well, alright.”
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It seemed like this conversation wouldn’t end until she agreed, whether she made future ‘mistakes’ or not.
After a fifteen-minute walk, they arrived at the restaurant, which was bustling with customers even though it was still morning. They sat down in a room with a window overlooking part of Jirisan Mountain.
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He didn’t even look at the menu, telling her to order whatever she wanted.
“Two portions of Jaecheop set. Please give me a plate of fried silverfish.”
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The food arrived quickly, as expected from a popular restaurant with a high turnover of tables.
“The jaecheop soup here is really delicious. I came here a few times when I was young.”
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“Do you have family in the area?”
He asked, sprinkling a spoonful of finely ground red pepper flakes into his soup.
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“My mother’s family is from here. My grandmother passed away, but my aunt still lives in the area. Ah, there’s a traditional house experience on the itinerary. That’s my aunt’s house.”
“Then why didn’t you stay at your aunt’s house yesterday?”
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“As I mentioned, I needed to experience the hotel accommodations personally. I considered having you stay there alone, but… it would have been awkward if our accommodations were too far apart.”
He frowned as she went on, as if something she said displeased him.
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“What is it?”
“I’m not that old.”
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“I never thought you were.”
“You treat me like an old man.”
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It seemed like a good time to ask each other’s age.
“Professor, how old are you this year?”
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“Since I said I’m not old, do you want to see my ID?”
He had a remarkable talent for blurring the lines between jokes and seriousness.
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“No, I’m just curious.”
“Guess.”
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“Even though you got your professorship early… You’re in your mid-thirties, right?”
“I’m thirty-three.”
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She couldn’t tell if he was offended by her overestimation or if it was just his usual indifferent tone.
“Is it my turn now? To guess your age, Ji Cho-yeon-ssi?”
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“Sure, if you want.”
“You look around my age.”
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Cho-yeon’s eyes narrowed. He smiled slightly, as if pleased with her reaction. His smile made her heart flutter.
What must it be like to make someone’s heart flutter with just a slight smile?
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Unable to imagine it, Cho-yeon smiled wryly.
“Twenty-eight. Am I right?”
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She was confused that he had guessed her age correctly, as if his previous remark had been a joke.
“Yes. That’s right. Twenty-eight. But, Professor, you’re really honest. You don’t seem to know how to give compliments. Normally, in these situations, you’re supposed to say that the person looks much younger, so that everyone feels good.”
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He raised an eyebrow and took a spoonful of soup.
“You exaggerated my age too, Ji Cho-yeon-ssi.“
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“That’s because I took into account the average age of professors. Anyway, I was trying to compliment you by saying that you must be remarkable for becoming a professor earlier than expected.”
“I knew your age. I saw you write it in the guest book yesterday.”
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She didn’t know why she was so irritated.
“Then why did you say you could guess my age?”
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“I was playing along.”
She was annoyed, but wanted to laugh.
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“Eat your soup. It’s getting cold.”
At his words, Cho-yeon started to eat her soup aggressively. It was delicious enough to dispel her annoyance.
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“What are we doing next?”
“We’re going to the Cornus officinalis plantation.”
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Cho-yeon imitated his indifferent tone. He burst out laughing, his smile so bright it blinded her for a moment.
“And there will be a room available at the hotel today. I talked to the front desk. I’ll change rooms.”
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He only nodded in acknowledgement.
She felt a pang of disappointment, though she wasn’t sure why.
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***
If they had come in spring, they would have seen the trees adorned with small yellow flowers. But since it was summer, they were covered in lush green leaves.
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“A plantation… is that where the trees were first planted?”
“Yes, that’s right. It’s said that a woman who came here as a bride from Shandong Province about a thousand years ago planted a Cornus officinalis tree here because she longed for her hometown. There’s a theory that the name of this area, Shandong, comes from that.”
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She stood there for a long time, looking up at the large tree. Min-hyun watched her quietly, remembering how he used to catch dragonflies as a child.
Sometimes a child’s curiosity, untainted by experience, could be selfish and cruel. He felt like a child who wanted to catch a dragonfly resting on a leaf, tear off its wings so it couldn’t fly, and then observe it.
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He had read somewhere that everyone has a child inside. The child in Min-hyun was curious about the wounds she hid, the ones that haunted her nightmares every night. He wanted to uncover and observe them.
But he was now an adult who understood the cruelty of tearing the wings off a dragonfly. He knew how to control the child in him, even if it was curious.
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So he decided that asking her about it might cause more pain. So he didn’t pry into the nature of her nightmares.
“She brought an entire tree all the way from Shandong? Not just seeds? Mun Ik-jeom could barely smuggle cotton seeds in a brush holder. You don’t really think she carried a tree all the way here, do you?”
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The real question remained unspoken, and in an attempt to change the subject, his words kept veering off course. Min-hyun gritted his teeth the moment the question left his lips.
“That’s a good point.”
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Her answer was always so unexpected, causing him to blurt out even more ridiculous questions.
“No, why do you say it’s a good point? It’s the local legend about this plantation.”
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Min-hyun wanted to ask himself what the hell he was saying at this point.
“A tourist might ask a guide such a question. The key is how smooth and witty you answer it. Are you curious about anything else?”
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She smiled faintly and looked at him.
Something else he was curious about…
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“How many times you’ve been told you’re beautiful.”